Barnyard BBS

I say, let me never be complete.
I say, let me never be content.
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Weekly Hydroponics Update
5/22/2007 6:30:36 PM

This week's update it far more favorable than the last one... We've ironed out our pH stability problems, and the plants have largely recovered from the low pH abuse.  Damn Milwaukee meter.  They've called to let me know that they've shipped out a replacement.  I'm willing to give it a go, but you can be sure that I'll be verifying it every step of the way.

I've added support stringers to the aeroponic bed, as the tomato plants have gotten so large that they were flopping all over the place.  Luckily, I thought ahead when I built the frame/light stand; so attachment points are convenient.  I'm considering producing a measured drawing and parts list for the PVC frame; in case anyone else buys a TurboGarden.

HydroRoomQ.jpg

Don't let the angle of the picture fool you, it's a big difference from a week ago.  I really should put inch markings on the PVC frame, so you can see it more objectively.

It's business-as-usual in the MegaGarden.   The lettuce is growing happily.  We even sampled some of it this weekend.  The wheatgrass is wheaty.  Everybody's happy.

HydroRoomP.jpg

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Comments (2)
Posted By Planty, Thursday, May 24, 2007 6:00:08 AM
Thank you for your blog and all the pictures of your plants. I am going to track it and follow your results. I notice you don't use the MegaGarden containers, did your set not come with 15 containers and a pH meter ?
Posted By Benji, Friday, May 25, 2007 10:24:14 AM
I'm glad that my blog is of some help. Here's my story on containers:

Wheatgrass was the main reason for my initial acquisition of the MegaGarden. I needed an ebb-and-flow for it, as it grows differently from other styles of plants. Originally, I grew "one big field" of wheatgrass in the MegaGarden. It grew well, but didn't work for my needs. All at once, I had far more than I could use; then I had none at all until the next batch.

I got the idea to make individual mesh baskets for the wheatgrass. This allows me to grow "single serving" amounts of wheatgrass at a time. The baskets holds the wheatgrass for its entire life. For example, the seeds are sprouted in the basket. From there, the entire basked it moved into the MegaGarden. The wheatgrass grows in the basket, until eventually the entire basket it removed for juicing. I usually run about five baskets at a time, as different stages of growth. Whenever I remove the oldest (for juicing), I plant a new one at the same time. This gives me a constantly mature, staggered growth cycle.

The baskets are made from plastic mesh, bought at a craft store. The stuff is very inexpensive. The edges are "sewn" together using fishing line. They're pretty easy to clean, and they're perfect for the "flooding" nature of an ebb-and-flow.

Wheatgrass aside, I *do* use the plastic pots (and Hydroton media) when I'm growing other plants, like lettuce. The picture above shows the black pots around the lettuce.

Oh, regarding pH... Yes. I do use the included test-kit, when I have the assistance of my dear wife. I bought the meter for entirely selfish reasons. I'm very color blind, and color-based methods are difficult for me. For anybody who can see color, they are great. They're cheap, and they're accurate enough for most cases.

Although I haven't written the post yet; I've received my replacement pH meter from Milwaukee. It's much better. It doesn't have the unreliability and instability issues as the last one. I don't trust it yet, but it also has yet to be inaccurate.

Hope this helps. Let me know if I can assist.